Dive Brief:
- Alaska Airlines selected Amaresh Siva to fill its newly created chief information technology officer role, effective next month, the airline said Monday. Siva will report directly to Ben Minicucci, CEO of parent company Alaska Air Group.
- Siva brings 29 years of technology leadership experience to the role. He will lead the airline’s AI strategy, along with enterprise technology, data, cybersecurity and digital efforts, focusing on modernizing core platforms and building scalable AI and data foundations.
- Previously, Siva led large-scale modernization and AI projects at CVS Health. He also served in IT leadership roles at Lowe’s and Target.
Dive Insight:
Siva’s appointment comes as Alaska Airlines pursues a return to profitability after reporting losses for two consecutive quarters.
Alaska Air Group posted a net loss of $76 million in the second quarter of 2026, Minicucci said during the company’s earnings call in July. In total, Minicucci said the company has lost nearly $500 million in the first half of the year, partly driven by an “outsized fuel headwind.”
During the company’s investor day in September, Alaska Air Group entered the activation phase of its Alaska Accelerate plan — a strategy launched in December 2024 — aimed at building a more global and diversified airline.
“As we developed Alaska Accelerate, we became very clear about what the future required: a broader network, a stronger commercial platform, deeper customer engagement and a more diversified earnings base,” Minicucci said during the event.
With Siva set to take on the newly established technology role, the airline will entrust the executive with unifying its technology and digital capabilities, setting an enterprisewide technology strategy going forward.
Siva said in the announcement that he plans to advance the airline’s technology capabilities to elevate guest experiences and reduce friction for employees.
“His track record leading complex transformations, scaling data and AI capabilities and developing high-performing global teams makes him the right leader for this important role,” Minicucci said.
